Steve Vai to Host 52-Hour ‘Big Mama Jama Jam-A-Thon’

Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai will host and serve as the musical director for “The Big Mama Jama Jam-a-thon," a 52-hour long improvisational music showcase that takes place Sept. 28-30 at Musician's Institute's new venue LiveHouse in Los Angeles.

The event will mark the inauguration of LiveHouse and all of the profits will benefit Extraordinary Families, a nonprofit L.A.-based foster family adoption agency that seeks to improve the lives of children and youths in foster care.

The full lineup of performers will be announced soon. In addition to featuring Vai's friends and other acclaimed professionals, novice musicians will be offered stage time, as will painters, poets, magicians and other artists.

Vai will be up front and center for most of the event and will direct the musicians as they improvise and jam with other players. For diehard shred fans, jam obsessives and insomniacs, the entire event will be streamed live worldwide on www.jamathon.org, www.vai.com, and the guitar legend's official Facebook page. Other outlets, including yet-unnamed websites, social media sites and cable TV stations will also stream the extravaganza.

As excited as he is to play such a major role in the expansive and original event, Vai is thrilled that the jam-a-thon will benefit Extraordinary Families. “I currently serve on the board of Extraordinary Families and let me tell you, these folks are extraordinary, and do vital work for families and children in L.A,” Vai said in a press release. “It is such an honor to be involved with this organization and to host something like this that will benefit so many children and families. ‘The Big Mama Jama Jam-a-thon’ will be a ton of fun and a place where anything can happen — expect quite a wild ride!”

For more information and details about how to be involved in "the Big Mama Jama-Jamathon," check out www.jamathon.org. Wristbands (good for four-hour blocks of time) are $50 on a first-come, first-served basis. Any remaining wristbands will be available at the door.

Artists can pre-purchase 10-minute slots onstage for a $100 donation. The spots will be available between midnight and 7 p.m. PT on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Midnight PDT to 3 p.m. PT on Sunday, Sept. 30. Any remaining stage participation passes will also be available onsite for a $150 donation.

An auction of event-related prizes will take place at www.jamathon.org and at various times throughout the live webcast.